Devon Cricketers 1859-2012

! " ! The first mention of cricket in the County was thought to be a match between the West Kent Militia and the Wiltshire Militia at Plymouth reported in the Sporting Magazine in 1799. In 1814 there was the first of a series of matches entitled “Etonians” versus “The World” which took place at Teignmouth and then other places in the County including the Park at Ogwell. These matches were to lead directly to the subsequent formation of the Teignbridge Cricket Club on 24th May 1824. In other areas of the County, matches took place at Tor Point in August 1817 where the club was beaten by Dock United. At Devonport, Dock United on the cricket ground at Tamar Terrace beat Officers of Army and Navy stationed at Plymouth. In 1824 at Quicke’s cricket ground on Haven Banks Exeter, Sidmouth beat Exeter. Sidmouth claims its formation in 1823 as does the North Devon Club with the Exeter Club originating from 1824 when it was called Devon and Exeter Cricket Club. There is no evidence to suggest it arranged any County matches. In 1825 the Devon and Exeter Club played Teignbridge Club at Barnstaple winning by 27 runs. In 1827 the North Devon Club played Teignbridge but lost. In the return a fortnight later North Devon won. Two further matches between the Clubs were played the following year when Teignbridge also played Sidmouth. Clubs were also established in 1828 at Holsworthy and Torquay. There were a number of odds matches between a team styled Devon or Devon and Cornwall and the All England XI between 1851 and 1862 and I have traced a Devon representative team playing three matches against Cornwall and Somerset before the County Club was established on 1st November 1861 following the proposal at a Torquay Cricket Club annual dinner that consideration should be given the formation of a the county club. Controversially it was agreed that the ground at Torquay be developed for the county ground despite other grounds being suggested. The first Secretary and Treasurer was W.H. Kitson with Mr H. Studdy of Brixham becoming Chairman and the annual subscription was fixed at £1.1.0d. It was not until 1864 however, that matches were arranged at Torquay but between then and 1879 it usually had the majority of home fixtures before matches were arranged in Exeter. Counties normally played on an annual basis included Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset with Wiltshire being played after its formation in 1881, together with the MCC. The ground at Exeter formerly known as Quicke’s Cricket Ground was first used by the County Club followed by Gras Lawn in 1887, and this was to become the County Ground from 1889. The County Ground at Pennsylvania was opened in 1902 with a match against London County captained by W. G. Grace. The first signs of difficulties were seen between 1874 until 1879 when there were no Annual meetings and the County Club was run virtually on his own by W.C.Sim the Secretary/Treasurer. It was a founder member of the Minor Counties Cricket Association in 1895 but was dissolved in November 1897 being reformed two years later on 26th November 1899. The acceptance of professionals into County teams did not occur until the late 1880s and most earlier county matches had been styled Gentlemen of Devon. The Minor Counties Cricket Association was formed in 1895, but Devon did not formally join the Championship until 1901. Between 1907 and 1911 the Championship was divided into regions, in 1907 to 1909 Devon was in the West Division and in 1910 and 1911 in the South and West Division. The County was rarely successful mainly finishing each season in the bottom half of the Championship table. The highest position between World War I and World War II was joint third in 1926.